Cheryl K. Chumley
Columns by Cheryl K. Chumley
Nik Wallenda, tightrope walker, after crossing Ariz. gorge: ‘Thank you, Lord’
"Praise God — this is awesome." Those were the words of tightrope walker Nik Wallenda as he successfully complete his quarter-mile, unharnessed journey near the Grand Canyon, 1,500 hundred feet above the Little Colorado River Gorge. Published June 24, 2013
U.S. executive says he’s being held hostage in Beijing
A U.S. executive said on Monday that workers at his factory in Beijing have held him hostage for the past four days, demanding better severance pay. Published June 24, 2013
India building collapses, killing 10, trapping dozens
Emergency responders on Friday were still sifting through the debris of a three-story building that collapsed just outside Mumbai, looking for survivors and retrieving bodies. Published June 21, 2013
James ‘Whitey’ Bulger snags a star: Actor Robert Duvall drops by trial
Truth is stranger the fiction. Academy Award-winning actor and director Robert Duvall — who counts among his film credits "The Godfather" and "The Godfather: Part II," as the Corleone family's lawyer — stopped by the Boston courtroom on Friday where James "Whitey" Bulger is being tried for racketeering. Published June 21, 2013
Tuberculosis outbreak hits elite Virginia county, prompting tests for 430
Fairfax County, Va., health officials are scrambling to get on top of a tuberculosis outbreak that hit an area school on Thursday, when three tested positive for the bacteria. Published June 21, 2013
British girl scout group removes ‘God’ from oath
Britain's equivalent of America's Girl Scouts — called Girl Guides and Brownies – took out the "God" from their 103-year-old oath. Published June 21, 2013
Now it’s the official start of summer: Man falls off Martha’s Vineyard ferry
The U.S. Coast Guard sent rescuers by sea and by air, ordering out at least two patrol boats and diverting a HH060 Jayhawk helicopter from the Air Station Cape Cod, in a frenzied attempt to find a 19-year-old who fell off a Martha's Vineyard ferry ride Thursday night. Published June 21, 2013
James Gandolfini’s last meal: Fried food fest, 8 alcoholic drinks
Hollywood icon James Gandolfini's last meal, in a hotel room in Italy, was a fried-food filled affair topped by eight alcoholic drinks, a hospital official said on Thursday. Published June 21, 2013
U.S. soldiers set to deploy to Egypt at a tense time
A group of U.S. soldiers are rocked and ready to deploy to Egypt for a 9-month peacekeeping mission aimed at curbing riots. Published June 21, 2013
25,000 bumblebees turn up dead in Oregon parking lot
Oregon agricultural officials are investigating the death of an estimated 25,000 bumblebees at a Portland-area shopping mall. Published June 21, 2013
Priest slams Nancy Pelosi: Stop ‘betraying’ Catholicism, or renounce faith
The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director for Priests for Life, isn't pulling any punches in a letter he penned to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a self-proclaimed Catholic: Either comply with the teachings of the Church, or renounce your faith. Published June 21, 2013
Frank Gaffney on Obama nuclear plan: Sheer ‘lunatic fringe’
Security think tank analyst Frank Gaffney had harsh words of criticism for President Obama's plan to draw down U.S. nuclear arsenals, calling it "lunatic fringe, leftist stuff" that will jeopardize the safety of the world. Published June 21, 2013
‘Sigh of relief’ as N.H. lawmaker who blamed U.S. for Boston bombings resigns
A New Hampshire lawmaker who said the April 15 Boston terrorist bombings were due to a U.S. government plot — and that a victim who lost both legs wasn't really in pain — has resigned, to the relief of politicos with both Republican and Democratic parties. Published June 21, 2013
Anthony Weiner faces fire for soft response to gay slur
New York City mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner is taking heat for the way he handled a woman who put down his opponent with a gay slur: Critics say he let the woman off too easy. Published June 21, 2013
Religious school in Pakistan bombed, leaving 14 dead
At least 14 were killed and 28 injured in a religious school attack that took place in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, police said. Published June 21, 2013
Turkey: ‘Terrorists’ fired 4 shots at helicopter carting commanders
A military spokesman for Turkey said Friday that "terrorists" shot at a helicopter transporting two commanders over an area that's heavily populated by Kurds. Published June 21, 2013
Canada bans protesters from wearing masks
A consortium of conservative Canadians pushed through a ban on mask-wearing protesters, clamping down on even those who assemble for unpermitted rallies in groups of three. Published June 21, 2013
Arrest warrant issued for New England Patriots’ Aaron Hernandez
A warrant was issued Friday morning for the arrest of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. Published June 21, 2013
Gun owners of America unite! Emily Miller is seeking photos of gun-toting patriots for her new book
Own a gun? Emily Miller, an award-winning columnist for The Washington Times who’s made waves and rocked boats with her coverage of Second Amendment issues, wants your photograph for her new book. Published June 21, 2013
New book finds many U.S. foods banned overseas for cancer links
Put down the Mountain Dew and step away from the Pringles. An estimated 80 percent of all packaged foods sold in America are actually so unhealthy and packed with chemical additives that they're banned in much of the world, a new book reveals. Published June 21, 2013